86 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS 



VOL. 60 



In using the apparatus to put out fires in the mine, the men may 

 be exposed to high temperatures of the air and to radiant heat from 

 the fire. The caustic soda, too, owing to absorption of CO, and 

 moisture, becomes hot and this contributes greatly to the high 

 temperature of the inspired air. The high temperature of the in- 

 spired air dries up the throat and contributes to heat stagnation and 

 fatigue. 



The following experiments were conducted on workmen wearing 

 the Fleuss apparatus at Messrs. Siebe, Gorman & Cb.'s works, in a 

 chamber about 8 ft. long, 8 ft. high, and 5 ft. wide. In this chamber 

 were placed two coke fire pails and the walls were splashed with 

 boiling water kept on the top of the stove. The men wore the dress 

 weighing about 34 lbs. and breathed oxygen. The temperature of 

 the inspired air becomes uncomfortably hot, owing to the heat pro- 

 duced in the breathing bag from the caustic soda combining with 

 CO. and water vapor. In order to reduce this a cooler was tried 

 consisting of a thick felt bag filled with carbonic acid snow and 

 placed so as to surround the inspiratory tube. Care had to be taken 

 to prevent the inspiratory valve from freezing. The effect of this 

 cooler in keeping down the pulse rate was excellent and much better 

 than that of other evaporation coolers which were tried, filled with 

 methylated spirit and water. The cool inspired air added very 

 greatly to the comfort and endurance of the men. By acting directly 

 on the blood going to the heart, it checks any great acceleration or 

 failure of the heart and so prevents heat-stroke. 



Chamber warmed by two coke fires with pail of water boiling on one fire. 



Time 



/'. M. 



3.40 

 4.20 



4 • 55 



5 ■ -'4 



5-40 



.1. " c ilence and Fun"* 



Wearing Fleuss dress, with 

 carbonic acid snow cooler 



Pulse rate 



94 

 114 

 1 [6 

 i-'4 



170 



Temp, ot in- 

 spired air 

 (wet bulb I 



Degrees F. 



51 

 48 

 60 



62.6 



B. "Jaw me Dead " * 



Wearing Fleuss dress, 



with methylated spirit 



and water cooler 



Pulse rate 



100 

 132 

 142 

 152 



152 



Temp, of in- 

 spired air 

 (wet bulb) 



Degrees !■'. 



70 



97-5 

 100.4 

 1 03 . 1 



* Their nick-names. 



A. — Lean and medium-sized but clothed. 

 B. — A fat, strong man stripped to the waist. 



